The Life of a Nurse In Progress (NIP)

the CUPCAKE disaster

2007-10-05T11:26:00.000-07:00

Madison and I enjoyed making 30 cupcakes last night so that she could surprise her teacher (his birthday was this past Monday). Thirty cupcakes complete with sprinkles all tucked in a nice cupcake tote. The poor little thing dumped them all over herself on the school bus this morning! Madison was sobbing and covered in icing. Thank GOD for my Mom...she ordered cupcakes from the P&C and took them to the school..saving the day!

Finished all my clinical paperwork last night in preperation for my weekend clinical. Now able to enjoy Logan's football game tonight, at Sayre. Great night for the game!

Will be posting a picture of my Lucy Bag that I have finally been able to learn to knit... thanks to my expert knitting co-worker, Kathy. Would have never thought that I could knit with five needles at once...then again..never thought I would be makin' it through nursing school, either!

~the power of prayer is an awesome thinig~

Where did the TIME go???

2007-09-25T17:30:00.000-07:00

Wow! It's been a few days since I posted. The weekend went by so quickly! Saturday was a busy day at the Binghamton General ER. Arrived at the ER at 7 AM to a madhouse! Every bed was full and things were hoping. I gave my first IM (Intra-muscular injection - Tetnus). I had only previously givem SQ (subqutaneous injections - insulin). Gave an injection in the deltoid..not too bad if I do say so myself:) I was able to get behind the scenes of a full body CT scan - the graphics are awesome. Irrigated a cut before assisting the MD with stitches..pretty cool! Watching a well seasoned ER nurse is a little intimidating.....I have so much to learn.

Sunday was a day spent at thqe step down unit of the psych floor. Ended up being a good day. I was able to have quality one on one conversations with my two patients. My personal belief is that many people have problems from being a product of their surrounding environment, past & present.

The kids each had birthday parties to attend on Saturday. This always makes me feel "less guilty" on a clinical weekend, when I know they are someplace that they would have gone, even if I was at home.

My Mads has been plagued with strep throat. She's been on an antibiotic for 48 hours, hope this will start to take affect soon.

We are planning an upcoming trip to Elk County to go elk watching....doesn't that sound like a fun thing to do for fall! It is actually going to be for my Dad's birthday. My sister says "what if we drive for three hours and don't see an elk?" Hadn't initially thought about that...http://www.pagreatoutdoors.com/outdoors/elkherd.html .

Tomorrow is the big D day at work - DIET contest..face the scales..ugh! It's a good thing, though!

~Take time to embrace the beauty of the fall colors ~ it's all a gift from God.~

One Nursing Exam down..three more to go

2007-09-19T19:16:00.000-07:00

First exam tonight on labor & delivery. Need to study my lab values a little more..quite a bit of value questions on the exam. Just not sure how I did..guess I will find out tomorrow when my grade gets posted online. Was really surprised that there were no math calculations on this exam. Glad I guess, but I need to get reviewig them before the "big" math exam in Jan. Made record speed getting home by 8:30 tonight because I had until 9:00 to get an online quiz completed for dev. psych. Breathing a sign of relief now.

Tomorrow night is open house for Mad's school. Will be fun to see my fifth grade teacher..who is also her fifth grade teacher!

Found out this past weekend that I only have ONE clinical rotation for October..three weekends free! We will make it up in November, but still..my fav month ..and I get the weekends too!

By the way..STILL not able to get the purse pattern started..errr! Would someone tell me how the heck you knit with five needles at once..I find it impossible.

Looking forward to watching Logan play football Friday night. A home game against Canton. My hubby said it will be a good one. Plan to get all my stuff around for clinical, tomorrow night. I don't have to preassign since I am headed to the ER on Saturday AM. As long as I can be in bed by 10:00, should be ok for Saturday at 5 am. I'm hoping to get some IV starts this weekend!

Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace and gratitude.

A milestone - the drivers permit!

2007-09-13T18:18:00.000-07:00

Came home from class last night and found myself searching for Logan's social security card at 11:00 pm. Of course, it could'nt be found. He needed it for his drivers permit test today. Thanks to my friend Karen, we were able to get a confirmation at the SS office which the Driver's Center accepted. We spent from 9:30 - 12:55 down there. I did make good use of time by studying for my first nursing exam coming up next week. Logan was very happy to have passed.

I am enjoying the new trailblazer but have to be careful because I looked down to see that I was doing almost 70 going to work. I am so use to driving in the triple cities for school...forget that the speed limit is much slower down here.

Jay & I and Amy & Tim are leaving at 7 AM tomorrow, to go to the Hershey RV show. Should be a fun time.

My office got moved to the other side of my building and I now have a window! Huge office with window all to myself..yes!

My friend, Sarah, had her baby girl today via c-section ~ Lillian & "Lily" for short. Will be heading up to Elmira to see her once she gets settled.

Everyone seems really tired around here tonight. Since I studied earlier, think I will do a little knitting now. Still not understanding how to get that Lucy bag started. I really want this bag for fall!

~It is not my ability but my response to God's ability that counts~

More time needed - ugh!

2007-09-11T18:13:00.000-07:00

I just finished an online Dev. Psych test. The Prof made each question so LONG, that it took forever to contemplate the answer..and dial up doesn't help the situation. Fifty questions in 75 minutes..and each question was a paragraph long........had to vent..feel better now.

On a good note, I can kiss the Jimmy goodbye~getting a jet black trailblazer tomorrow. I haven't had a new vehicle in years...this rocks!

All PUPPIES gone. The runt was the last to go and he went to a nice family in Litchfield last night.

Logan is counting down the hours until he goes to take his written drivers test. I will say it again.."Lord, give me strength". Oh boy.

Madison was so excited to tell me that she can incorporate girl scouts into her busy schedule. It's being held right after school (like when I was a girl), and it will be on Monday nights. Class night for me, but Jay will be able to pick her up.

It's getting late & all is quiet around here tonight. Time to catch up on readings before class tomorrow night.

God Bless the families of 9/11.

~To have faith is to believe that the task ahead of us is never as great as the Power behind us~

Breathing a sigh of relief!

2007-09-09T17:29:00.000-07:00

After working 8 hours on an acute psych unit of the hospital, today, I came out to find that my gmc wouldn't start! Jay and my father-in-law drove an hour and 15 minutes up to where I was and they were able to get it started. Needless to say, the vehicle is being traded tomorrow! Left the hospital parking lot 3 hours later than expected.

Two puppies left!

My experience, today, on the Acute Psych unit has made me aware of what the word "psychosis" really means. Today has been a real eye opener for me.

We did manage to eat dinner together tonight. Madison had her first day back to Sunday school. Our church had their "Sunday school kickoff" today.

When in doubt - look up.

It can't be 5 am already!

2007-09-08T17:24:00.000-07:00

s-l-o-w-l-y out of bed at 5 am. Hardly any sleep last night since it seemed like 90 degrees..I'm ready for some fall weather!
Met at the nursing lab for a review of skills (foleys, injections, IV's, pumps, trach care). After 4 hours, everyone tested through and we were off to pre-assign & orientate to the PSYCH unit of Binghamton General. Have to admit..little nervous about this. Pre-assigned my two patients and headed home by 3:00.
Think of the best candy store that you have ever been in..well I found a Yarn Shop that would be equal....and it is one block from Binghamton General! Yipppee. Talk about "Vogue" - the fibers in this shop are the most beautiful colors and textures that I have ever seen. Shop is called Spin a Yarn www.spinayarn2knit.com. I bought the double pointed needles that I need to knit my Lucy Bag. Will definetly be going back in a few weeks!

Only 3 puppies left!

Madison and Jay just came home with chocolate panda paw icecream..a little bit won't hurt, right?...

It's only 8:20 pm and my eyes feel like lead. In bed by 9 to awake by 4:45 am for my Sunday clinical.

~The Lord answers knee-mail~

TGIF...not so sure about that!

2007-09-07T13:00:00.000-07:00

My morning routine had a little "joust". After the kids got on the bus (6:45 am), I finished up a few things and took Molly, (modified black lab) out to put her on the the leash. Managed to get my feet tangled in her leash and FALL off the deck! Hit the second of 10 stairs and then flew through the air, missing the last 8. All that I could think of was..please don't let anything be broke, I have clinical tomorrow! I tore the skin off my left shin and my white, linen crops had many grass stains. Still made it to work by 8, but then left at noon for x-rays (contusion on my patella). Home for elevation & ice. I have clinical bright & early Saturday at 7:00 am..no time for this nonsense!
PUPPIES! yes, we have 7 free puppies (beagle/lab) that look just like a lab. Phone is ringing off the hook..all the cuties should be gone by tonight. A wonderful family just came and took one black and one buff puppy..while they were here a BEE decided to land on my lip and STING me. My lip is the size of a flying saucer.
Little nervous about what the rest of the evening might bring....hopefully tomorrow will be an awesome first clinical day!

~Love the Lord with all you heart~

My very first post..how exciting!

2007-09-06T19:52:00.000-07:00

It's getting late, but wanted to make my very first post to my blog. Here I am in my 4th semester of nursing at BCC (two more to go). So far, so good (two weeks in). Lecture is starting out with Labor & Delivery..can I ever relate! Was wonderful to get back to class and see my fellow NIPS..love you guys! Class is Monday and Wednesday nights.

Doesn't take much to excite me - I got my new Lucy Bag Knitting Pattern in the mail yesterday and booked it to the yarn shop today for some wool yarn in a beautiful fall spice color...now to find the time....Knitting really calms me down. Have even thought to knit a few rounds before an exam - I will let you know if it works. For you knitters, check out http://www.twooldbags.com/ for some great patterns.

Almost a meltdown first night of class..let me share: We take a math exam, (dosage calculations, drip factor rates), in January. 20 questions. This is a make or break exam. Miss more than 3..you get a second chance..do it again and you are out of the program. I got through it last year on the first round. Here we go again. First night of lecture I looked at the syllabus (purchased 15 minutes ahead of class) and saw that Wednesday was listed as the MATH EXAM!! Yikes did my hand ever go up fast! Seems there was a big typo in the syllabus and the math exam is still on for January..not September..safe for now!

Mads & Logan up in a tree on the "North Shore" of Cayuga Lake. Located directly across the road from this beautiful picnic area is Taughannock Falls. http://www.taughannock.com/ We love to spend time here.

My 16 year old is anxiously awaiting to take his permit test (Lord, give me strength). Looks like next Thursday will be the day for that. He's my 6 foot size 13 shoed football player (#71) GO BLACK KNIGHTS!!

Miss Mads started dance & choir on Tuesday nights -glad for this, since I don't have class on Tuesdays. We usually get home around 7:00...crockpot night.

Mom had the whole gang for dinner tonight..what a treat. She said she is going to start doing this each Thursday..yippee!

The Lord renews my strengh each day...